title: Absence of synchrony between human small intestinal migrating motor complex and rectal motor complex.
abstract: Both the human small intestine and rectum exhibit motor activity in which relatively brief bursts of powerful regular contractions recur with a similar periodicity. We used prolonged ambulant manometry to test the hypothesis that these activities are synchronous. Pressure activity from the duodenojejunum and the rectum was recorded continuously for 24 h in eight freely ambulant healthy adults. A total of 61 migrating motor complexes and 61 rectal motor complexes occurred in the group; the median periodicities of the two rhythms differed significantly (P = 0.025). There was no evidence of synchrony between the two biorhythms. We conclude that they are independent oscillations.
authors.affiliation: Gastrointestinal Science Research Unit, London Hospital Medical College, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wingate
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004386:Duodenum / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000502:physiology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000502:physiology*; D010507:Periodicity; D012007:Rectum / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors